short-day plant

short-day plant

one that requires a daylength of less than a certain minimum value for the induction of flowering to take place. In fact, the term is somewhat misleading in that such plants (e.g. strawberries, chrysanthemums) are really sensitive to periods of darkness rather than daylight, requiring a night length of more than a minimum duration, i.e. these are long-night plants. Compare LONG-DAY PLANT, DAY-NEUTRAL PLANT. see PHOTO PERIODISM.